Improvement in dental saliva-ejectors



G. B. SNOW. Dental SaLlVeL--Ejeotor Patented IVIar. 18, |879.

wmkf, y om N4 PETERS. PHOTO-LITHOGRAPHER, WASHINGTON. D C.

-NITED` STATES PATENT FFICE.

GEORGE B. SNOW', OF BUFFALO, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO THE BUFFALO DENTALMANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

IMPROVEMENT IN DENTAL SALIVA-EJECTORSN Specification forming part YofLetters Patent No. 213,356, dated March 18, 1879; application lilcdSeptember 18, 1876.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE B. SNOW, of the city of Buffalo, in thecounty of Erie and State of New York, have invented a new and usefulImprovement in Apparatus for Removing Saliva from the Mouth during theperformance of dental operations therein, which is fully set forth inthe following specilication, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawings.

This invention relates to a form of apparatus for the purpose specified,in which the gravitation of a column of water is used as a means ofobtaining the motive power; and it consists in the combination, with areservoir provided with an adjustable outlet, from which the waterescapes by drops, of an upright tube of small bore and considerablelength, through which the water passes, alternating with air, thusproducing` a partial exhaustion of a chamber surrounding the top of saidupright tube.

It also consists in the combination, with the small upright tube andexhaustion-chamber, of a larger or separating tube, into which thesaliva and air drawn from the mouth are delivered and separated, thesaliva passing downward by gravitation and the air passing upward intothe exhaustion-chamber.

It also consists in the combination, with the said separating-tube, of acup surrounding its foot, kept partially full of water by the dischargefrom the reservoir through the small tube, the effect being to trap thelower end of the separating-tube, rendering it air-tight, while it isstill left free to discharge its contents of saliva.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is asectional view of theapparatus, and Fig. 2 a cross-section of the mouth-piece.

A represents the reservoir for the water, which forms a water tightconnection by means of the ferrule B with the valve-casing O. The rod Dscrews into a stem formed on the upper portionot the valve-casing O, andits lower end, being reduced in size and formed of 'a conical shape,constitutes the valve E'. Side passages e allow the admission. of waterfrom the reservoir A, and when the valve E is partially opened byslightly unscrewing the rod .D the water finds its exit by the 'passagee through the lower side of the Valve-casin g, which is prolonged into apointed form, to insure the delivery of the water at the center, asshown, and into the cup or exhaustionchamber H. The bottom of thischamber is pierced by the tube I, which extends a short distance up intothe chamber, and which is surmounted by the inverted cup or bonnet J,the lower edge of which extends a little below the upper end of the tubeI.

The tube I should be of such small bore that water will fill itcompletely across by the force of capillary attraction, and will not rundown its sides and allow air to pass. A few drops I of water will thenoperate as a piston, it placed within it, and it is upon this point thatthe utility of the apparatus depends. The tube I extends downward foraconsiderable distance, the power of the apparatus being directlyproportional to its length.

The casing or separating-tube G K is shown as inclosing the tube I,which makes a rightangled bend at its lower end, and comes to theoutside of the separating-tube K. The upper portion of the casing G isof such a diameter as to allow a certain amount of space between it andthe exhaust-chamber H, which it surrounds. It has in its side the nozzleO, by which connection is made withthe iiexible tube I and themouth-piece R S. The lower portion, K, extends downward below the end ofthe tube I and opens laterally into the cup L, into which its end'isfastened.

The oflice of the casing G K is to form a separating-chamber in whichthe air and saliva drawn from the mouth may be separated, the airpassing upward into the exhaust-chamber, and the saliva gravitating toits bottom and escaping into the cup L, through the openings l', whichare under water. As the upper end of the overflow-pipe M is above them,the casing G K is thus trapped and rendered airtight, while it is leftfree to dischargeits fluid contents.

The apparatus may be mounted in any way deemed preferable. It may befastened .to the wall or suspended to a convenient projection. I prefer,however, for the sake of portability and ease of adjustment, to place it011 a stand.

It is accordingly shown in the drawings as attached to the foot-piece N,which is arched to allow of the introduction of a proper receptacleunderneath to catch the overi'low from the pipe M.

The nozzle 0 connects with the mouth-piece R by means of' the flexibletube I. The mouth-piece has a bulbous end, to obviate pain from itscontact witlleni'futh ot' the patient, and the opening therein for theentrance of the saliva has a deep cross-cut, as shown in Fig. 2, toprevent stoppage from closure ot' the oritiee by pressure against themouth ot' the patient.

1f the rod 1) is partially unscrewed, so as to Start the valve E fromits seat, water will pass through the passages c e, and will drip intothe exhaust-chamber Il. When it rises above the mouth of the tube I itwill discharge itselt' down that tube until it is drawn below the levelof the lower edge ofthe bonnet J, when it will be followed by a certainquantity ot' air. The level of the water will rise again as the supplycontinues, and it will again discharge itself as before, and each bodyofwater will cornpletely occupy the .bore of the tube fora certaindistance on account of its small size.

It will be seen,then,that the whole length of the tube I will becomefilled with alternate sections of water and air, gravitating to itsbottom, and discharging there into the cup L.

The air being thus withdrawn from the exhausti0n-chainber H and thecasing (lr K, they will become partially exhausted, and the water willbe drawn from the bottom of the enp L into the casing K until thegravity of the column of water therein contained is sufficient toovercome the viscidity of the saliva and draw it through the mouth-pieceand ijexible tube P into the casing at O. The saliva will then passdownward through the tube K, and any air entering with it will rise andbe removed through the tube I.

The power ot' the instrument depends upon the height of the column ofwater which is drawn into the tube K; hence its power is directlyproportional to the length of this tube and of the tube I.

Having thus described the construction and operation ot' my improvedhydraulic salivaejector, I claim as my invention and desire to secure byLetters Patent- 1. The combination, in an instrument for drawing salivafrom the mouth, of a watersupply and a vertical tube of small bore,occupied by alternate sections of water and air, passing downward by theaction of gravity upon the water in the said tube, substantially asdescribed.

2. The combination, in an instrument for drawing saliva from the mouth,of' the reservoir A, tule I, chamber H, tube 1, and mouth-piece lt S,substantially as described.

3. The combination, in an instrument for drawing saliva from the mouth,0f the tube K, enp L, and overl'low M, substantially as described.

GEORGE B. SNOW.

Vt'itnesses:

W. (l. PRocToR, W. C. BARRETT.

